Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Long
ago, there lived a great scholar called Ayodh Daumya. Daumya was
great teacher and had plenty of students. One of his students was
Aruni.

As
was the practice in those days the students stayed with the teacher
in the gurukul. The students helped the teacher out by doing the
daily chores and also learnt scriptures and vedas from the teacher.

Daumya
called Aruni one day, 'Aruni! I want you to bring some more firewood
for the gurukul.' Aruni nodded his head. He was already looking after
the farms of the gurukul. Aruni did not bother much about the extra
work. If his teacher asked him to do something, that just meant his
teacher trusted him that he was capable of handling it.

That
day he went to the forests and was collecting the firewood. As he
returning home, he saw that dark clouds were gathering in the sky.
Alarmed he rushed back when he saw the banks between the farms were
crumbling. Oh Lord! If the banks break, the water will flood the
field and all the crops would be washed away...I will have to
be back before the rain..As Aruni was about to proceed forward,
the clouds burst open and he was drenched in the showers. Aruni
dropped the firewood and ran to the banks. He tried to make the banks
stronger by plastering it with more mud...However the elements were
against him. As he tried making the banks stronger, the rains kept
washing the mud away. The water threatened to enter into the
fields...

Oh
Lord what am I to do....Aruni
thought...

In
the gurukul, that evening, all the students finished their studies
and were watching the increasing rain from inside their ashrama
rooms, when they saw a very worried teacher coming and checking the
rooms of all the students.

'Where
is Aruni?' He asked as he entered the room of the last of the
students.

The
students looked at each other and shook their heads. 'Last we saw him
was when you had sent him to collect the firewood sir!' One of them
spoke, after thinking for some time.

Dhaumya
was aghast. 'That was in the morning....He would not be gone for that
much time...' Daumya looked out looking at the torrential rains with
worry, '...It is raining...What if he is hurt...'

Daumya
resolutely shook his head. Nothing like that would happen to his
student...He looked at the students inside the room. He called
out five of his eldest students, 'You five come with me...We
will go out looking for him...'

'Stay
safe inside the ashrama...' Daumya told the others as he shivered in
the cold rain, 'I am going to look for Aruni...'

Daumya
and his students set about looking for Aruni in the cold rain. As
Daumya went towards the forest, he grew more and more
apprehensive..What had happened...Aruni was usually very careful
and responsible...

Daumya
walked about as the rain eased a little. It made Daumya's search a
little easy. Daumya was listening above the slight drizzle as his
students called out for Aruni. He strained his ears to hear any sound
from Aruni..Nothing...

Daumya
neared his field...He suddenly realized that the rains would have
washed away the crops...He sighed, he would have to...That was
when Daumya's keen eyes spotted something, the water had not
entered the field...Daumya called his students and asked them to
follow him as he went to the banks of the field of crops.

'Aruni!'
Daumya shouted in the cold night. He strained his ears as he heard a
faint reply, 'Sir...Sir...bank..crops...'

Daumya
ran towards the sound. He knew it was Aruni and also knew that Aruni
sounded stiff in the cold and the rain...Daumya ran forward and saw
something lying near the bank. The water was being stopped
by...Daumya blinked as his eyes adjusted to the darkness.

He
saw Aruni lying on the crumbling bank. Aruni was acting as the bank
preventing the water from washing away the crops..Astonished
Daumya ran forward and came near Aruni. Aruni looked faint from
hunger and cold. He was constantly muttering, 'Bank breaking...crops
washed away...' Daumya picked up Aruni and asked his other students
to mend the bank. The students quickly got to work as Daumya carried
Aruni back to the ashrama.

Aruni
was given fresh clothes and some food. After the food, some colour
returned to Aruni's face as Daumya watched his student with pride.
The other students returned and told the teacher that the bank had
been mended and that no damage had been caused to the crops.

Daumya
nodded his head and looked at Aruni with pride in his eyes.

Aruni
finished his food as all the students of the ashrama watched him.
After dinner Daumya came and stood beside Aruni.

Daumya
smiled, 'You laid down on the boundary to prevent the crops from
being washed away...'

Aruni
shuddered, 'I tried building the bank sir! But the rain was too
strong then and besides I was only one...I could not...So I did the
only thing...'

Daumya
smiled again, 'Son! I am proud of you...You have done a great service
to the ashrama....You will be a great man, Aruni!' Daumya said
simply, 'Today, I raised you from the boundary...Henceforth you will
be known as Uddalaka [In sanskrit, Uddalaka means, the one who was
raised from the boundary].

Aruni
blushed as he heard his teachers words looking at the other students
looking at him with admiration.

True
to the teacher's words, Uddalaka Aruni after completing his studies
became a guru and became a great teacher...Uddalaka is the
grandfather of Ashtavakra...A great scholar, who was the teacher of
King Janaka, the father of Sita in the Ramayana.

Friday, April 20, 2012

Bhasmasura
was an asura, who was driven by ambition to be the most powerful
Asura ever. He saw the other Asuras and decided that he would perform
severe penance to win the favour of Lord Shiva and become powerful.

So
Bhasmasura prayed for a long time. He prayed and was soon absorbed in
his meditation. Lord Shiva in Kailasha, heard his prayers and
wondered who it was who was praying to him. Using the power of
meditation, Lord Shiva realized that it was Bhasmasura who was
praying.

Lord
Shiva never differentiated between his devotees, whether they were
Devas or Asuras. If they were true devotees he appeared before them,
no matter who they were. Lord Shiva satisfied with Bhasmasura's
penance prayed to him with utmost devotion and appeared before him.

‘Open
your eyes, Bhamasura!’ Lord Shiva said appearing before him.

Bhasmasura
opened his eyes feeling the divine voice flow through him. He opened
his eyes and saw the beautiful three-eyed God before him. He bowed
low and fell on his feet. ‘My Lord, you have come at last…’ He
said looking at Lord Shiva once more.

Lord
Shiva smiled, ‘You prayed to me…I came to see you… What do you
wish for, Bhasmasura?’

Bhasmasura
smiled, ‘My Lord! I wish to be immortal...'

Lord
Shiva shook his head, 'No Bhasmasura. That is against the laws of
nature. All of whom are born have to die...'

Bhasmasura
pouted. He had so wished that Lord Shiva would make him invincible
and immortal. Looking at Lord Shiva, Bhasmasura realized that no
amount of pleading would change Lord Shiva's mind.

What
should I ask...I need to become powerful...more powerful
than...Bhasmasura
looked at Lord Shiva as he had an idea...

'My
Lord if I touch
anybody’s head, they should be reduced to ashes…’ Bhasmasura
said rather fast.

Lord
Shiva frowned and wondered what prompted the Asura to ask such a
wish. But then Lord Shiva remembered that Bhasmasura had prayed well
and that he was duty bound to grant any boon that he sought for. So
Lord Shiva raised his hand and granted Bhasmasura the blessing.

Lord
Shiva did not realize his mistake until, Bhasmasura let out a
maniacal laugh, He studied his hands and said, 'Now I am more
powerful than anybody. I am more powerful than you Lord. I can even
burn down Lord Shiva….if I wish….’

Lord
Shiva winced when he heard this. He stared as Bhasmasura continued.
‘Now Lord! I wish to test my power. I…’ Bhasmasura said coming
forward, ‘I will place my hand on your head….’

Lord
Shiva backed away as Bhasmasura came forward….Lord Shiva realized
that he could not take back his words. He would be reduced to ashes
if he let Bhasmasura touch him. That would change the entire
destiny...That was not the way the things must happen...So Lord
Shiva did the only thing he could do...He ran and ran and ran,
Bhasmasura followed him with his hands outstretched.

Lord
Shiva was wondering what to do, when he prayed to Lord Vishnu the
Preserver God. ‘Narayana, Please help me now….’ He said as he
ran between a clump of trees inside a jungle…

Bhasmasura
was about to follow Shiva inside the clump of trees, when
he…stopped..

Before
him stood the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. She was so
beautiful and so graceful that for a minute Bhasmasura even forgot
who he was…He blinked and stared at the woman again, ‘Wh…Who
are you?’ He finally managed to say.

The
lady opened her mouth and frowned looking at him, 'You don't come to
someone's home and ask them who they are...You have to tell me who
you are...'

Bhasmasura
was having difficulty breathing. Slowly he inhaled and realized that
the woman had asked him a question...'Bhasmasura...I ...I am
Bhasmasura...' He croaked.

'Ok
Bhasmasura,' The woman said looking at him with twinkling eyes. 'Now
is the time you ask me my name...'

Bhasmasura
felt silly as he spoke again, 'Who are you beautiful lady?'

'I
am Mohini...' The lady said in a beautiful voice, which captivated
Bhasmasura.

'Will
you marry me?' Bhasmasura asked the words before he could stop
himself.

Mohini
gave a tinkling laugh and turned and walked away.

Feeling
like an utter fool Bhasmasura also followed her. He followed her and
slowly asked her everything about herself.

Mohini
lived in the forest with her parents. She had come here to collect
flowers for the daily puja at home.

'Mohini,
what I meant back there was...' Bhasmasura said slowly, wondering
whether Mohini would laugh at him again, 'will you marry me..I will
take good care of you and keep you happy always.'

Mohini
looked unhappy as she looked at Bhasmasura, 'You with your good
looks...I would look to marry you..' Bhasmasura felt his heart swell.
A
woman like Mohini had called him a good looking man....But then why
was she unhappy.
Mohini continued, 'I am a dancer Bhasmasura. When I was younger I
made a promise that I would only marry a man who can dance as well as
me...'

Bhasmasura
blinked. He had never danced in his whole life. But he promised
himself. He would learn how to dance just to marry this woman...

Mohini
looked at him and said anxiously, 'Don't worry I will teach you..If
you follow my steps exactly the way I do it, I am...I am yours and I
will marry you..' She said looking at Bhasmasura. Bhasmasura was
ready to slay dragons for her.

So
the two of them danced. Bhasmasura tried his best to copy Mohini's
move as she smiled encouragingly at him.

They
went on dancing, where Bhasmasura got better and better at copying
Mohini's moves. Bhasmasura concentrated on dancing and on nothing
else. Mohini soon had a move where she kept her hand on her head.
Without thinking Bhasmasura did the same!

Unfortunately
for Bhasmasura, his powers worked....

Mohini
was looking at Bhasmasura's ashes as Lord Shiva appeared before
Mohini. 'Thank you!'

'Anytime!
Just think carefully next time, you grant anybody any boon.' Mohini
laughed as she vanished and Lord Vishnu stood in her place.

Sunday, April 15, 2012

In
the Satya Yuga there lived a great king by name Kusha. Kusha had four
sons – one of the sons was Kushanabha. Kushanabha had a son –
Gadhi. Gadhi had a son Kaushika. The story of Vishwamitra starts with
Kaushika. Kaushika was a brave and valiant king.

Kaushika
had a huge kingdom. He very often traveled from one place to another
to look after his people and listen to their complaints personally.
Once as Kaushika was traveling from one place to another, he passed
through a dense forest. Kaushika was traveling with a part of his
huge army. When Kaushika came to the centre of the forest, he saw a
beautiful hermitage there.

Kaushika
sent his men to find out whose ashrama it was. His men came back,
'Your Majesty! The ashrama belongs to the great Sage Vasishta!'
Kaushika immediately got down from his horse. 'Wait here! I will go
and pay respects to sage. Ask the men to be ready...We will be
leaving soon...' His men nodded as Kaushika went inside the
hermitage.

Kaushika
met the great sage inside the ashrama and bowed to him. 'Sir! I was
passing from a city in my kingdom to another, when I saw your
hermitage. I just came to pay my respects to you sir!'

Kaushika
hurriedly shook his head. It was after all a small hermitage. There
was no way, they could feed an entire army. 'Sir! We are in a
hurry...Kindly excuse us now...'

Sage
Vasishta smiled, 'Your majesty! You think I will not be able to feed
you or your men...I think that is the reason you are refusing my
hospitality...Please let that not bother you...All of you please have
your lunch here...'

Kaushika
frowned. There was no way he could back out now. But the sage seemed
insistent on feeding all of them. He shrugged. 'As you wish sir!'

Kaushika
was a little curious now. He went back outside. He told his men that
they would be having their lunch here. When the cooks got ready.
Kaushika shook his head. 'We are going to enjoy the hospitality of
the sage today...' If the men found the order of the king a little
strange, they did not say anything about it. They just went to the
river and washed themselves. The king also came back after refreshing
himself.

Much
to surprise of the king and his men, they had a lovely lunch that
day. It was wholesome and was sufficient for the entire army.
Kaushika was now more than curious. After his lunch he hurriedly
cleaned himself. He asked his men to take rest and ran back to the
sage.

'Sir!
I am sorry to be asking this question...But how were you able to feed
our entire army?....' The king asked the sage.

The
sage smiled, 'I have a cow with me your majesty – Nandhini.
Kamadhenu, the divine cow, came out during the churning of the ocean.
Nandhini is Kamadhenu's daughter. Indra, the Lord of the Heavens
presented Nandini to me...Nandhini can provide as much food as is
necessary sir! There is no end to how much she can provide...'

'Can
I see the cow, sir?' Kaushika whispered in awe. The sage nodded and
took the king to the back of his ashrama. There Kaushika saw a
beautiful cow calmly grazing. There was a powerful aura around the
cow...' Looking at the cow, Kaushika had no doubt that the cow had
indeed provided them with all the lunch they had had today. The king
nodded. The sage lovingly caressed Nandini and spoke, 'She is like
my daughter to me...All of us in the hermitage love her and worship
her...'

Frowning
Kaushika walked out of the ashrama. Head bowed he went towards his
horse.

Such
a cow is meant to be with a king...Why with this cow, I can feed my
army anytime any place and there would be no problem...If I take it
with me to my palace, every single person in my kingdom would benefit
from this...The sage should understand and gift this cow to me...As a
king I deserve to have the cow with me...Such
ran the kings thoughts as he neared his horse. Finally when he was
about to get on the horse, he signaled his men again. 'Wait for me! I
have some work...'

Saying
this Kaushika again went back into the ashrama. Sage Vasishta was
surprised to look at the king. He was even more surprised on seeing
the king come in with a determined look...as if he wanted something.
Frowning the sage went forward and greeted the king. 'Your Majesty!
Is there anything else?'

Kaushika
slowly nodded his head and looked at the sage, 'Yes sir! I have a
favour to ask of you...'

Sage
Vasishta remained silent and looked at the king waiting for him to
continue. The king said, 'Sir! I am a king and I have an army which
goes with me and lots of people in my kingdom...my subjects whom I
love like my own children...'

Sage
Vasishta still did not say anything and asked Kaushika to continue.
'Sir! I think it would be better if I had Nandini with me...' Sage
Vasishta looked at Kaushika with anger as Kaushika continued
hurriedly, 'Sir! You have only a hermitage here...You will not need
the cow much...I on the other hand will make good use of the...'

Sage
Vasishta looked at the king with anger and slowly calmed himself,
'You just look at the cow and look at it like a source of food...Do
you know what she means to me and to my family members...She is part
of my family King Kaushika! I cannot just hand it over to you...She
will not like it...'

Kaushika
was now getting angry. The man was not understanding that the cow was
underused here and that he needed the cow...He curbed his anger and
tried again, 'Please sir! Think how many people would benefit from
this...'

Kaushika
impatiently spoke, 'Name your price! I am a king...I can give you
whatever price you want for the cow...'

Vasishta
laughed, 'Seriously your majesty! You cannot expect me to take your
offer seriously. What riches can you offer me in return of a cow,
which already offers me everything?' He spoke to the king
contemptuously.

Kaushika
angrily looked at the sage and said, 'Fine! If you will not give the
cow to me...I am going to take the cow...Who
says I need your permission for it...'

Sage
Vasishta said quietly, 'Do what you want, Kaushika! I am not giving
the cow to you...'

Kaushika
stomped out of the hermitage angrily..If its a battle that
silly sage wants...it is a battle he will get...
Kaushika eyed his trained soldiers all ready and waiting for his
command and almost laughed out as he saw the small hermitage....The
cow is mine... He went outside
and called his general, 'Get your men ready for battle!'

The
general looked surprised, 'What are we going to do, your majesty?'

Kaushika
angrily pointed at the hermitage, 'I am going to bring down that
hermitage brick by brick...I am going to make it such as if it never
existed...'

The
general did not like the idea of attacking defenceless people one
bit. He spoke calmly, 'Please tell me what happened your majesty!
Probably I can find a way out...'

Kaushika
angrily hit his hands in a fist and spoke, 'There is nothing to
discuss...That man has a cow, which I need..That silly man is
refusing to give me...the king...So he must be punished...'

The
general slowly got the whole story out of the king. He could see that
the king wanted to use the cow for the benefit of the kingdom...But
he also understood that the sage loved the cow...he would not hand it
over...

Kaushika
barked at his general, 'Now don't question my orders! Get the men
ready...' Kaushika looked at the hermitage with contempt, 'We are
going to make short work of this...'

The
general tried reasoning with the king, but the king was too angry to
see anything in the right perspective. Finally having no choice the
general asked his men to get ready to attack the ashrama. The king
himself led the attack and went in front of his men and stood outside
the ashrama, 'Vasishta! Give me the cow or face my attack...Now!'

Sage
Vasishta came outside and looked at huge army standing before the
hermitage and smiled. Sage Vasisha spoke quietly with his steely
angry eyes, 'Kaushika! This is the last chance I am giving you...If
you want to prevent a massacre of your men, leave NOW!

Kaushika
failed to notice the anger in the sage's voice or the determination
with which he spoke. He thought the sage was bluffing and shook his
head, 'The cow, or a battle...Which is it?'

Sage
Vasishhta closed his eyes and muttered a mantra. The king was about
to order his men to attack, when he stopped cold. As the sage
finished talking and opened his eyes, a huge and fierce
army carrying all types of weapons appeared before the ashrama,
to protect it! The
king faltered for a minute. The sage had the power to create such a
huge army, by the mere power of words! Probably it was best not to
ruffle a man like that...However the king had already given the
command. He could not go back on his word.

And
so the attack started.

No
matter what the king tried, the warriors of Sage Vasishta were
superior in strength and strategy. Needless to say that Kaushika's
entire army was routed by the attack! Kaushika was captured by the
army of the Sage Vasishta. They tied up the King and dragged him
before the Sage Vasishta. Kaushika was staring angrily at Sage
Vasishta. A mere sage, with no riches or possessions of any kind
had defeated him...one of the greatest warriors in the world...All
with what? The power of the meditation was that powerful? All his
fighting skills were useless and unnecessary...

Sage
Vasishta looked at the bound king and spoke, 'Kaushika! You behaved
out of arrogance...You thought that might was right and did not even
pause to think about your actions. But I think you acted out of
ignorance...For this I forgive you...Take your remaining army and
leave....Never ever fight with the power of the Brahman....The powers
of meditation are much more stronger that brute force and
strength...Always remember that...Now GO!'

Kaushika
listened to the words of the sage...He felt something change inside
him... He realized that he no longer wished to be a king...A king was
someone who had to bow to the might of a sage...A sage...The power of
penance, that was what he wished...he wanted to be the most powerful
of them all...He bowed to Sage Vasishta and walked away from there.

He
immediately gave up all the rights to his kingdom and walked away. He
immersed himself in meditation and cared for nothing else in the
world. His whole body burnt with only one passion – he had to
become a better sage than Vasishta.

Kaushika
started his penance and kept to it very steadfast. In fact he
concentrated so much on the power of the Brahman that he was able to
perform his meditation and penance effortlessly. He just shrugged off
all physical challenges...

High
up in the heavens, Indra was getting worried with Kaushika's penance.
Kaushika was becoming more and more powerful and there was nothing
which seemed to stop him. If this went on Kaushika would become even
more powerful than him. Indra realized that something had to be done
to stop Kaushika...

As
Indra got worried, he called his most beautiful apsara – Menaka to
meet him in his garden. He told her, 'Menaka! I have a work for
you...' he said as he sat in the garden looking at the beautiful
fountain in between the lush green garden.

Menaka
nodded her head waiting for Indra to continue. Indra said, 'Do you
know Kaushika?...'

Menaka
frowned as she spoke, 'Are you talking about Kaushika who fought with
Sage Vasishta for the cow Nandini?'

Indra
nodded, 'Yes! The same one...'

Menaka
frowned again, 'I thought he no longer wanted to be a king...He had
given up everything and started his penance...'

Indra
sighed, 'Yes! That is the problem...You see I underestimated exactly
how powerful his penance would be...If he continues the same way, I
am afraid...I am afraid he would become even more powerful than
me...Well...he has been a king before...I would not put it past him
to try conquering the heavens once he has enough power...' Indra said
to Menaka feeling a little desperate.

Menaka
sighed. Indra always got paranoid every time any sage tried to
perform any difficult ritual. She sat down in the garden beside him.
'Indra...not everyone in the world would be interested in dethroning
you...To the best of my knowledge that man wants to be better than
Sage Vasishta...he has no quarrel with you...Why do you think he
should be interested in your throne?'

Indra
said, 'You do not understand...Menaka, He has been king, people like
that will always have the desire to rule others...otherwise there is
no other reason for him to undertake this particular penance now...'

Indra
went on and on until Menaka reluctantly nodded her head, 'Fine! What
do you want me to do, Indra?'

Indra
smiled slyly, 'You are the most beautiful woman ever...Nobody can
ever resist you ever...' Menaka sighed and nodded her head. She knew
where the conversation was leading. Indra continued, 'I want you to
use your beauty and destroy his penance...' Indra finally said.

Menaka
said quietly, 'Indra you yourself have said that he is very powerful.
What if he curses me...if he finds out what I have done....'

Indra
shook his head, 'Who in his right mind would curse you, Menaka? One
look at you and everyone would be charmed by you...Please...?' Indra
said holding Menaka's hands.

Despite
everything, Indra was the king of the heavens. Menaka was duty bound
to do what her king asked her to do.

Menaka
nodded her head. That very day, she set out for earth to meet
Kaushika. Menaka found Kaushika deep in penance. Unfortunately for
Indra, there was a twist in the tale. Menaka, who was supposed to
charm Kaushika fell in love with Kaushika, the moment she saw him.
She already knew of his bravery and his valiant nature. The minute
Menaka saw Kaushika, she fell in love with him.

Kaushika
used to meditate in wild forest and perform his penance there. While
he was deep in meditation, Menaka came there. Out of her love for
him, she used all her powers and created one of the most beautiful
gardens there. The fragrance from the garden was amazing and the
garden had every conceivable colour of flower in it. When Menaka was
finished, the place surrounded Kaushika was not a wild untamed
forest, but a fragrant beautiful garden with a spring season. As
Kaushika opened his eyes, he saw a beautiful maiden before him. Added
to that Kaushika also saw that the garden around him was so beautiful
that he somehow felt different...

As
Kaushika opened his eyes, Menaka started dancing, a beautiful dance
which was lovely to look at. Kaushika saw Menaka, he forgot his
penance, his meditation, his desire to get better than Sage Vasishta,
he forgot everything....He fell in love with Menaka immediately. As
she finished dancing, Kaushika looked at her with rapt eyes as
she bowed to him.

'Wh...Who
are you?' Kaushika croaked, his heart thumping.

'I
am Menaka...' She said in a beautifully haunting voice, which
Kaushika liked very much. 'I am a maiden in Indra's court...I was
seeing you perform penance...' Menaka shyly bowed her head and spoke,
'I...liked you very much....so...so...I came down to see you...'
Menaka faltered as she felt Kaushika look at her.

Kaushika
felt drawn towards Menaka, the way he had never felt towards any
other woman. He looked at Menaka and spoke innocently and little
desperately, 'Menaka...I do not know whether I am worthy of
you...But....but will you...you... please marry me....' He spoke in
a hurry.

Menaka
gave a tinkling laugh and bowed before the sage shyly, 'Sir! I
thought you would never ask...'

Menaka
and Kaushika were married very soon enough. However Menaka was
thoroughly miserable sometimes. Indra's words kept on haunting
her...She could not accept the fact that she had been responsible for
destroying the powers of meditation and penance, which were
accumulated by Kaushika.

Kaushika
on the other hand was delighted with his loving and understanding
wife. She seemed to sense his every need and was there to fulfill it.
He also tried his best to keep Menaka as happy as possible. Menaka
was delighted to find Kaushika a very thoughtful and loving husband.
Soon after their marriage they had a daughter – Shakuntala.

Shakuntala
is famous in history for her marriage to Dushyant. Shakuntala and
Dushyant had a son Bharata, after whom the entire country of Bharata
(India) is named. However that is another story.

After
the birth of Shakuntala, Menaka felt even more unhappy especially
when she saw what a loving and doting father Kaushika was. So ten
years after their marriage, Menaka steeled herself and spoke to
Kaushika, 'Kaushika, there is something which I have to tell
you...Something that I should have told you a long time ago and
something which I never had the nerve to tell you...'

Kaushika
smiled, 'Menaka, you cannot have done anything that terrible...what
is it?'

Menaka
blinked away tears and she spoke, 'I am a bad person...I told you
that I came from Indra's court did I not?' Kaushika nodded asking
Menaka to continue. Menaka took a deep breath and spoke, 'The truth
is that Indra sent me...' Kaushika frowned as he listened to her in
silence. Menaka continued, 'Indra was getting worried that you would
become very powerful with your penance and dethrone him...' Kaushika
felt a whiff of anger at Menaka. Menaka almost faltered but
resolutely continued, 'He sent me here to break your penance...That
was why I came here...' Menaka said miserably. Kaushika had gone very
still and said quietly, 'Go on...what happened?'

'But
when I came here and saw you...the unthinkable
happened...I...actually...actually fell in love with you...I wanted
to be with you....' Menaka said feeling thoroughly miserable.
Kaushika closed his eyes and took a deep breath.. He felt that over
the decade, his powers, once which he had been so obsessed about, had
been drained from him...He had nothing with him..Kaushika was in a
fit of rage when he realized that he had lost all the power for a
woman, who was acting under someone else's orders...Kaushika opened
his eyes and looked at Menaka once more standing before him. She said
quietly, 'That is the truth Kaushika! I don't care what you do...And
there is one more truth that is I love you...' Menaka said with
utmost sincerity in her eyes.

Kaushika
closed his eyes as he felt the pain in her words. He understood that
she loved him as much as he had loved her. Kaushika opened his eyes,
'Menaka! You have fooled me..you have stripped me of my powers...For
this I curse you...' Menaka did not even flinch. She looked like she
welcomed it. She looked at Kaushika as he spoke, 'I curse you
Menaka...I curse you that you will always be separated from me...'
Menaka looked at him with anguished eyes as Kaushika released his
curse. Menaka disappeared from there immediately as Kaushika let out
a wail of frustration. Menaka was sent back to Indra's court...she
could never meet Kaushika again.

He
had sent away the only woman who had loved him...Kaushika knew. He
had also spent all his yogic powers...But Kaushika did not care...The
old fire was back in his eyes. He wanted to regain all his yogic
powers. He would regain his penance and meditation. But first he had
to take care of his daughter.

He
went back to his ashrama and found his baby daughter Shakuntala alone
in the ashram. Wherever he saw her, he had memories of Menaka.
Shakuntala had the same features like Menaka...He took a deep breath.
Kaushika remembered that his friend Sage Kanva had wanted to adopt
Shakuntala some time ago. Menaka had point blank refused it...But
now...Kaushika took a deep breath and he took the baby and went
straight to the ashrama of Sage Kanva.

There
he spoke with the Sage. Sage Kanva looked at his friend. His friend
looked like something had been torn apart from his heart...But Sage
Kanva decided not to question it. Kaushika spoke dully, 'You wanted
to adopt my child...did you not? I am willing...Are you still
interested...in...' Kaushika looked at the child and did not say
anything more. Sage Kanva readily agreed and soon the ceremonies were
completed.

Leaving
Sage Kanva with his daughter, Kaushika went back to the Himalayas to
forget Menaka and also focus on his penance and meditation.
Kaushika's penance was now more difficult as he had to continuously
forget his thoughts of Menaka...But he still did it...Kaushika
started his penance with great vigour and again started his
meditation....

As
Kaushika became more and more powerful, Indra again grew worried. He
knew that he could not send Menaka again. Indra realized that Menaka
was actually in love with Kaushika and secondly Menaka was prevented
by Kaushika's curse to go back to him. Indra wondered what to
do...What worked once, may work again...

He
called Rambha, the queen of the apsaras. 'Rambha, you have to go to
speak with Kaushika, will you...?'

Rambha
shook her head, 'Indra do you think I am foolish?...You have already
successfully broken his meditation once....He was so angry at that time...If I try to break his meditation again, he will
curse me...There is no way I am risking that...'

Indra
shook his head, 'Rambha, Menaka is only an apsara...You are the queen
of apsaras...If Menaka can break his meditation...Can't you do the
same?...' Indra spoke in taunting words. The words hurt Rambha. She
was also feeling slightly jealous. If Menaka can do it, it would
be embarrassing if I can't do it...Her jealousy clouded her
judgment. Rambha nodded her head, 'I will do it Indra.'

Indra
smiled as Rambha left for earth that day.

Just
like Menaka, Ramha also transformed the wild and untamed Himalayas
into a beautiful spring garden. She prepared beautiful fragrant
garlands and danced before Kaushika.

Kaushika
opened his eyes, when he had a sense of deja vu. The same thing had
happened a long time ago. Even now sometimes, he had memories of
Menaka, thought not with the same intensity as before...He remembered
it all as if from someone else's life...He was through it now...

But
this time instead of Menaka, there was some else before him. Kaushika
took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He concentrated and used his
powers of meditation to find out the reason behind Rambha's visit. He
saw in his mind's eye, Indra's talk to Rambha and how Rambha had
agreed to come...

Kaushika
opened his eyes...as he saw Rambha dance, this time instead of
falling in love, he became angry...This woman was acting under the
orders of that foolish Indra...Kaushika opened his mouth and uttered
a curse in anger, 'You foolish woman! I curse you...' Rambha stopped
dancing looking at Kaushika with fear, 'I curse you that you will
become a rock for ten thousand years...'

Rambha
screamed. But before she could do anything, she turned into a huge
rock then and there. [Rambha was freed from her curse by Sage
Vasishta – Kaushika's rival]

Kaushika
looked at huge rock which stood in the place where Rambha was dancing
and immediately felt guilty. He had given out a harsh curse to a
woman who was just following orders...All this was the doing of
Indra...not this woman...Kaushika was again disappointed. He felt
that all his years of meditation were a waste...He had still not
mastered his temper...He was dejected...first he had broken his
meditation by love and now by his anger...He was still not in control
of his senses. He closed his eyes and he realized that he was getting
angry with Indra for no reason.... Indra is not my
enemy...neither is Rambha...I cannot control my senses...That is
what is going against me...I have to master myself...Kaushika
realized. I need to perform meditation to gain control over
myself...

Thinking
thus, Kaushika again started his meditation with renewed vigour. This
time his intensity and focus was unmatched. Kaushika had given up
eating, drinking and even breathing...He was so totally immersed in
the Brahman that everything else stopped existing for him.

Indra
was now totally worried. Kaushika was becoming more and more powerful
and there was nothing he could do to stop the man...After hearing
what happened to Rambha, no apsara was ready to even look at
Kaushika, let alone go near him.

Indra
thought and wondered what to do...he was looking at Kaushika who was
breaking his fast after his long penance and meditation...Suddenly he
had an idea...

Back
on earth, Kaushika was about to take his meals, after his meditation,
when he saw a poor, pathetic looking man come towards him. The man
looked like he was learned man, who had seen bad days. He was
stumbling forward and walking as if in a daze. Kaushika left his food
and ran forward and caught the man. He made the man sit down and gave
him some water from his kamandalam. The man gratefully accepted the
water. The man drank the water and closed his eyes. His eyes then
became clearer and spoke to Kaushika, 'Thank you kind sage! Thank you
so much...You saved my life...' The man croaked. Kaushika smiled and
patted the man. Finally the man spoke again, 'Sir, I am hungry! Would
you please...' The man said pointing at the food before Kaushika.
Without a second's notice, Kaushika nodded his head. 'Please take
what you want...'

The
man frowned, 'Don't you want any of it?'

Kaushika
smiled and shook his head, 'Not as much as you want it...'

The
man fumbled, 'I will go and clean myself and come...I like my food
hot...' He said with relish looking at the food. Kaushika smiled.
'There is a river nearby friend! Go wash yourself! When you are
fresh, you will find your food hot!'

The
man went away towards the river. Kaushika closed his eyes and started
his meditation...his hunger forgotten. He looked at the place where
the food was kept and recited a mantra...No matter when the man
would come, the food would be hot...

The
man, who was none other than Indra wantonly took a long time cleaning
and washing himself. It would be impossible for anyone to keep up
their fast while staring at food before them...I will take as long as
possible...Kaushika will surely break his fast and then I will ask
for food...But Indra had badly miscalculated this time. Kaushika
had started totally mastering himself...He had no such yearning for
the food.

Though
Indra came after a long time, Kaushika not once even looked at the
food. Indra to his surprise found that the mantras of the sage had
even kept the food hot for him. Indra grudgingly realized that the
sage had powers greater than his and that he could not stop him any
more. Indra went home a dejected man, as Kaushika felt an enormous
power flow though him...He felt like he was finally controlling
himself...

However
it was at this time that another problem came up. Kaushika had a
friend – Trishanku. Trishanku was the king of the Ishkawaku dynasty
[The same dynasty of Rama]. Kaushika and Trishanku were very good
friends. Their friendship went back to the days when Kaushika was a
king of a huge kingdom. After Kaushika had been defeated by Sage
Vasishta when he wanted Nandini, the heavenly cow, he had given up
his throne and gone away in a fit of anger. Unfortunately at that
time a great famine struck Kaushika's kingdom. The people in the
kingdom would have died from the drought. However Trishanku looked
after Kaushika's family and his kingdom and made sure everyone had
enough food to eat. Kaushika never forgot Trishanku's gesture and
wanted to repay him back in some means.

Trishanku
was extremely good looking and handsome. However as he was learning
from his teachers about the facts of life and death, he learnt that
after death every person had to shed his body and his soul would
alone go to heaven. But this worried Trishaku. I will not be able
to go to heavens in my good looking body?...That cannot be good...There
has to be a way by which I can go to heaven in my own body...I will
ask my teacher whether that can be possible...

So
the very next day, Trishanku went to see Sage Vasishta, his teacher.
'Sir!' He bowed to Sage Vasishta, 'Sir! I have a request for you!'
Sage Vasishta nodded his head and asked Trishanku to continue.
Trishanku hesitatingly continued, 'Sir! Is it possible to go to
heavens with the body that I have right now....Please...' He said.
Sage Vasishta shook his head. 'No Son! That is not possible...Your
soul is what you are...Not your body...Your body keeps changing with
every birth you have...Whereas your soul belongs to the
Brahman...that is the only thing which always lives forever, not your
body...Do not have any attachments with physical things like your
body or other material comforts...'

Trishanku
was however not satisfied, 'Please sir! I think it can be done...can
you...'

Sage
Vasishta lost his patience, 'Enough! I have heard enough of your
foolishness...I say it cannot be done...that means it cannot be
done...And that is that' Sage Vasishta yelled at Trishanku. Trishanku
knew that no amount of convincing could change the Sage's statement.

Trishanku
sadly went away from Sage Vasishta's hermitage.

As
he was walking, Trishanku came to another ashrama. Sage Vasishta had a hundred sons. All the hundred sons together had
a ashrama. Trishnaku went inside the ashrama and talked to them. 'Look, I
just want to know whether you would be interested in performing a
yagna for me...by which I can go to heavens in my own body...'

However
Trishanku should have known better. He should have known that Sage
Vasishta's sons would not go against their
father. The request of Trishanku angered Sage Vasishta's sons. 'You
have come here to ask for our help, after our father refused to help
you! How could you even think we would help you?...If we entertain
you...it would amount to insulting our father....'

Another
son yelled at Trishaku, 'You dare come to us! For this I curse
you...you are so proud of your body are you not? You will not have a
good looking body hence forth.' Trishanku opened his mouth to stop
the curse. But the son continued, '...You will look ugly
and deformed and nobody would even want to look at you....' The son
released the curse. Trishanku trembled as he heard the curse. He felt
his body change. He saw the sons of Trishanku come and jeer at him,
looking at his face. Trishanku saw his own men look at him and turn
their face away...Trishanku hid his face and ran to the river nearby.
Trembling and shivering he looked inside the water and what he saw
appalled him. In the reflection, there was a hideous looking man...! The curse of Sage Vasishta's son had deprived
him of the one thing he was really proud about...Trishanku wailed in
frustration as he thumped his hands on the rocks near the
river....But no amount of wailing could bring back what he had lost.

Now
Trishanku felt totally alone and lost. Stumbling and fumbling
Trishanku walked in the dense forests. He totally abhorred looking at
all people and avoided everyone at all costs! As he walked on and on
he reached the ashrama of Kaushika.

As
Kaushika was about to begin his morning prayers, he saw a hideously
ugly looking man come and look at him. However Kaushika never saw
any of that. The only thing which he did see was the king hearted
man, who had looked after his family and kingdom, when he had left
them. Kaushika ran forward and embraced Trishanku. Trishanku felt a
little uneasy as he was among people after a long time. However
Kaushika's love opened him up. Kaushika made sure Trishanku ate well
and rested well. Only after this he asked the reason why Trishanku had
come here...

Trishanku
spoke in broken words, 'You...know how handsome and good looking I
was....' Kaushika nodded his head and did not say anything. 'Sage
Vasishta and his sons took all that away from me...All for what?' He
said angrily, 'All because I wanted to go to heaven in my own
body...' Trishanku spoke with blood shot eyes, 'I think it can be
done. But those people refused to even listen to me...Vasishta's sons even cursed me and took away my
good looks.' Trishanku was almost reduced to tears as he spoke with
trembling tones.

Kaushika
thought what the king told him and spoke quietly, 'I can make sure
that I send you to heaven in your own form, Trishanku...' Trishanku looked
at Kaushika with hope in his eyes. However Kaushika held up his
hands, 'But listen to me. I can also change you to your previous good looking form ...But if I do that, I would lose quiet a lot of my penance energy. I doubt
whether I would be able to send you to heavens with the remaining
energy I have...What do you wish I do?' Kaushika asked Trishanku.
Trishanku thought about the jeering faces of the sons of Sge
Vasishta. He knew how they would feel when he went up to heavens in
his own form...Their face would be something priceless to look at. He
looked at Kaushika. 'Send me to heavens in the same form that I am
right now..' Kaushika patted his friend. 'Don't worry friend! I will
make all arrangements for your yagna..Take rest and take good care of
yourself...' Saying this Kaushika walked away from there.

There
was another reason Kaushika wanted to perform the yagna, which he did not
tell Trishanku..Sage Vasishta had told Trishanku that nobody could
be sent to heavens in their own body..To do something that
even the great Sage Vasishta cannot do, would be something like a
crowning achievement for him...Kaushika was gleefully thinking as
he set about making his preparations for the yagna.

He
invited the sages from all over the country to attend the yagna. All
of them fearing the sage's curse attended the yagna. Predictably the
only two exceptions were Sage Vasishta and his hundred sons. Sage Vasishta had politely refused to attend the yagna. His sons sent
back an insulting message to Kaushika telling him that they would not
attend the yagna.

When
Kaushika got the reply of the sons of Sage Vasishta, he lost control
of himself. He cursed the sons of Sage Vasishta, however that is
another story....

Kaushika
started the yagna, with great pomp and show. He said the mantras and
used his powers and made sure Trishanku raised up to the heavens in
his own form. Trishanku and everyone else was amazed to find that he
was actually rising to the heavens in his own form! Trishanku was about to enter
the heavens in his form, when Indra, the Lord of the Heavens, came and saw an impossible thing.... A man was coming inside his kingdom
in his own form! Indra was stupefied...such a thing had never ever
happened! Indra stared and looked at Trishanku. He looked down at the
earth and saw Kaushika's yagna. He understood that Trishanku was
being sent up by the powers of Kaushika's own penance powers. Indra
already knew that it was impossible to fight Kaushika and defeat
him...But he could however deal with Trishanku. Once Trishanku came
to heavens, he was in Indra's realm. Indra caught hold of Trishanku's
neck and angrily told him, 'You silly man! You think you can break
the law of nature! No man can ever come up to the heavens in their
own form...Why should I make any exception for you...Take your
hideous form and get out of here...' Indra threw Trishanku down with
all the force he had. Trishanku was unable to protect himself and
fell down, plunging straight back to earth. 'Kaushika! Help me!' He
yelled as he fell face down.

Kaushika
sensed that something had gone wrong. With only a few minutes to
protect Trishanku, Kaushika uttered a mantra by which he stopped the
falling Trishanku.

Kaushika
looked at Indra angrily, 'Indra, you are foolish and arrogant...you
think you can match wits with me and win! Never!' You are arrogant
thinking you are the ruler of the heavens and that you can do
anything...But I have the power of the Brahman, just see what I can do...'

Holding
Trishanku suspended in midair, Kaushika using the remaining powers of
his meditation, set about creating...He created his own world, and a
heavens there...where Trishanku could go and reside...

Now
Indra was scared...Kaushika had surpassed him! Kaushika was now actually displaying the powers of Brahma, the Creator God which were much greater than Indra's own power. Kaushika was
actually creating a parallel universe, with another Indra...Indra
shivered and wondered what to do. He along with Brahma went to see
Kaushika, 'Kaushika! Your powers are great! You have shown the
control you have over the Brahman, but you are changing the laws of
nature...That should not be done...' However Kaushika was past caring.
He continued creating another heaven for Trishanku to live in..Brahma
and Indra desperately talked with Kaushika asking him to drop the
idea and keep the balance of nature.

Finally after a lot of requesting, Kaushika accepted. But
he told Indra and Brahma, 'The world I have created for Trishanku
would be for him and he can stay there only...That will be his
heaven...The only concession I can give Indra is that Trishanku would
rule only his own heaven, he would not be able to rule outside his
heaven, on the earth or anywhere else.'

Indra
said feeling a little disgruntled, 'Please... the only way to make
sure that he rules only within his sphere, is to keep him upside down
in the same form in which he was suspended by you...'

Kaushika
realized that it was the only way to keep the balance of nature and
reluctantly agreed to the condition. Thus Kaushika was able to create
an alternate universe for his friend Trishanku, when he was refused
the permission to go to heavens in his body form.

However
after Kaushika had created the alternate universe for Trishanku he
found that he had again depleted all his powers. He however had no
regrets this time. He set about continuing his meditation and penance again. He gained
much of his penance powers. Lord Brahma came and called him as
'Rajarishi'!

However
that did not satisfy Kaushika. He again started his meditation and
this time Lord Brahma came and conferred the title of 'Maharishi' on
him. However Kaushika was still not satisfied. He performed some more
meditation and penance and then went to ashrama of Sage Vasishta.

Sage
Vasishta looked at Kaushika and said, 'Kaushika! I do not think you
are great because of your powers...You are nothing more than a
scoundrel..a scoundrel who wanted to steal my Nandini...'

Kaushika
felt a change come over him when he heard the words of Sage Vasishta.
He did not even react, not did he get angry. He was thinking about
his silly little battle for Nandini. It all seemed so irrelevant
now...He actually laughed. Kaushika at last felt completely in
control of himself.

Sage
Vasishta now looked at Kaushika with respect, 'Now you are totally in
control of yourself, Kaushika! You are a Brahmarishi! Someone whom I
would be proud to call my friend!'

Kaushika
smiled. He knew that he and Sage Vasishta had now become best
friends. It was at this time that Lord Brahma appeared there.
'Kaushika, you have been a good friend and you have helped all the
people who have come to you...For this henceforth you will be called
as 'Vishwamitra' – the friend of the universe. You are Brahmarishi
Vishwamitra henceforth...'

Brahmarishi
Vishwamitra smiled as he felt waves of peace pass through him.